Outcasts writer Ben Richards has responded to the show's critics and commented on the programme's schedule shift.

Drama controller Ben Stephenson confirmed earlier today that the BBC One sci-fi drama would be shifting from 9pm primetime to a new late Sunday night slot. The scheduling move came after a dramatic drop in ratings to below 3 million viewers.

Writing on Twitter about the changes, Richards remained defiant, commenting: "I have every confidence we will rule our new slot. Clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose!

Richards has also been defending the show on the Guardian website's community section.

Following a barrage of attacks from TV critics after the first episode, he said: "Sometimes I think it doesn't matter what you write, the same old chorus will start up like the critics on The Muppets (two of my favourite characters) 'Whaddya think? I hated it!'

"I'm not a snob, I like action myself; I don't want to do didactic treatises, etc. The show BUILDS. You may like it, you may not but I'm quite happy we took a risk. I'm glad the much maligned BBC did and some of the moaners would have been screaming blue murder about 'just another cop show'."

He continued: "People have a right not to like things although I think many of the loudest and least interesting critics get a little bit Rumpelstiltskin about it all, stamping the little boot of negativity so hard that they get locked into a discontinuous mindset only recognising 's**t' and 'great' on their radars."

Richards also argued that too many critics were not giving the show enough time, claiming that some of his favourite programmes such as The Wire and Friday Night Lights had not been immediate hits.

"It really takes time to build and I'm very proud of some of the later eps in Outcasts and I think it builds to a very moving finale," he said.